Sky Cafe/Johnny Smith

X DOT 25 Music releases "Lonely Voyager" by "Sky Cafe" from "The Age of Indifference" album

The Beginning of the End - 1983

Morteza Katozian - MortezaKatozian.com

Sky Cafe

"On this debut recording, Sky Cafe shares with their listeners their message of hope and concern around important issues of our time and invite us to contemplate our daily lives from a compassionate perspective. Conveyed in simple yet eloquent rock and folk settings, this collection of songs combines Johnny Tillman Smith and Michael Dane Hager's complementary songwriting skills and Aldoush Alpanian's typically attentive production. Sky Cafe puts forth an acoustic/electric sound that is the ideal background for Michael's plaintive outcry and Johnny's forceful, soulful vocals. The result is a thoughtful and introspective effort that is sure to please." San Francisco Chronicle

Sky Cafe

Michael Hager is a successful songwriter and play-write who turned his creative talents to writing novels in 2008. His first novel "Just Beyond the Edge" has received rave reviews from both reviewers and readers alike. He has just completed his second novel "Times of Clouds & Sun" due out in the summer of 2013. Michael lives in Mexico and is currently working on two film scripts. He's is co-producer of the Diez Minutos Play Festival, an international theater production to help promote the arts in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Artist Johnny Tillman Smith was born in Long Beach California in 1962. He began his musical life at a very young age. Born into a musical family, A televised performance of Elvis playing “Hound Dog” that truly inspired the 9 year old Smith to pick up the guitar and pursue a life of performance and by the age of 10, he was regularly invited to perform on stage with local professional musicians.

Johnny eventually relocated to San Francisco following his performance on Sky Cafe formed Alias Smith, a roots/rock influenced band which took first prize in a regional Battle of the Bands competition. Alias Smith’s debut CD by the same name garnered much praise, and helped the band to secure an 18 date tour throughout Sweden and Finland as well as stage performances alongside such reputable artists as The Beach Boys, Starship, Maria Muldaur, and Roger McGuinn to name a few. As a solo artist and released the album “Just a Man”. Johnny’s maturity as a musician is realized as his sultry, soulful voice weaves throughout songs reminiscent of sophisticated blues melded with upbeat rock tempos. The hit “Love Is like a Rock” became #1 on radio request lines, and the song “Fortune Teller” received honorable mention in the Napa Valley Music Festival Song Writers Competition.

Johnny has won best performer 3 of 3 times at the Northern California Songwriters Association competition, and is a regular on live television and radio broadcasts. Through all of his successes, Smith has never lost “touch” with his roots and still performs on the original Martin D-35 that he’s been playing since age 12.

Album Details:

Age of Indifference

On this debut recording, Sky Cafe shares with their listeners their message of hope and concern around important issues of our time and invite us to contemplate our daily lives from a compassionate perspective. Conveyed in simple yet eloquent rock and folk settings, this collection of songs combines Johnny Tillman Smith's powerful vocals and Michael Dane Hager's complementary songwriting skills and Aldoush Alpanian's typically attentive production. Sky Cafe puts forth an acoustic/electric sound that is the ideal background for Michael's plaintive outcry and Johnny's forceful, soulful vocals. The result is a thoughtful and introspective effort that is sure to please.

There are so many people that we have to thank besides the wonderful musicians that made this labor of love and our dreams come true. Special thanks to: Tyson and Brennon for reminding us all that there is a next generation we need to nurture and care for, Tina and Michele, our loving partners, for their unyielding support and compassion, Don Surplus for his practice studio, Mark for his great sense of humor during our recording session, Christopher Ross and Mike Sanders who always inspired, our numerous friends for having the patience to stand by us through the dark days, Aldoush for asking to always do better than we thought we could and to X DOT 25 Music who had visions and didn't let adversity stop them.

We are all confronted constantly with the challenges of day to day existence and it would be very easy to ignore our loved ones and the world about us. But every look into our children's faces reflects our past, present and future. The past is our legacy both good and bad. The present is our opportunity to correct our current course and stop worrying about the so called "generation gap" or political differences. The future is determined by how successful we are in making our principles and commitments come to life, and thus create real change. This album is dedicated to everyone who can reach down into the soul of this music and save a homeless child from another cold night, or contribute their energy saving our fragile earth or nurture a friend through a broken heart.

We want to thank you for taking the time to share our music and our lives.

"Valley of the Moon"

Words and Music by: Johnny Tillman Smith and Michael Dane Hager

you can see it from a distance with its neon signs that burn the sky it's a city with no namewhose lies are hidden behind the walls some are reaching for their hopessome are reaching for the bright lightsthey're all hiding from their fate all hoping for a future that's lost in timeall the alley ways are filled with the broken shards of last nights dreamsand the voices in the dark cry out to the strangers in the lighthey mister, can you sparejust one lousy quarter or a dimeso I can fight off those demons that are running through my mind

(Chorus) in the valley of the moonthere is no place you can hide and in the valley of the moon all your hopes are sacrificed

so you take your heart and runto a safer place in time and leave the valley of the moonto the prisoners of her lightwell the day is like the dark when you've lost the secrets to your past and the answers to your futureare too vague for you to see the signsyou were hoping it was simplewhen you came here to this sacred land but now that you have been hereyou can see that you never had the chance

(Chorus)

now you thought you found some friendsthat could save you from these mission linesso you reached into their hearts with the stories of your tragic lifebut they just turned away and said"Did you hear the crazy words he raved?" "Yes, I think it was a prayerfrom a man whose soul has flown away"

"Swept Away"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

well I was thinking about the day we left each other standing in the rain and I was wondering how you are and how much you've really changed and I remember the things we said and thought we both understood and I tried to love you all the way, you know I did the best that I could

(Chorus)

now I've been swept away by the memories of you and I'm crying for help is there anything you can do I've been swept away by the memories of you and I'm asking for love, is there anything you can do

well I look in the mirror and sometimes there ain't nobody there and I'm waiting for the day all this confusion will clear and I can't forget the look you had on your face when you went away it haunts me everywhere I go and I try and try and try to forget

(Chorus)

well the pictures on my wall they tell me it was not a dream and I know I'm not the fool, but sometimes that's just the way it seems well I was thinking about the day we left each other standing in the rainand I was wondering how you are and how much you've really changed

(Chorus)

"Come Out"

you've always been a loner just happy with yourself you don't know what you're missing with your life upon the shelf come out, you'll be happy that you do and I'll be happy too I just want you to come out

(Chorus) come out here and see what you're missing all you got to do is open the doortake a couple of steps and open your eyesthen you'll see the beauty the beauty of the world all your life you've been wondering about it wondering about the outsideyou don't have to worry I'll be by your side

the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing why don't you come out of that lonely placeget up on your feet get out of that chair come see the sunshine and breathe the air, oh yeah(Chorus)

"Lonely Voyager"

Words and Music by: Johnny Tillman Smith and Michael Dane Hager

she was born down by the water where the river meets the sea they say it was a holy placejust made for raising southern girlsbut for her it was a prisonthat kept her from her dreamslost behind those dark walls of old time traditionshe was looking for a reason something to have faith in now she gave away her innocenceto a blue-eyed boy in blue jeans never asking for forgivenessjust looking for answer to her prayer a destination from her boredomthat could free her from her fate a quiet moment of distractionthat could carry, carry her heart awayshe was looking for a reasonsomething to have faith in

(Chorus) she's got secrets in her heartthat she doesn't want exposedshe's got memories in her past thatshe'll never let you know she's a lonely voyagerjust chasing endless dreamsin a firestorm of painwith nowhere left to hideshe's a lonely voyagershe's a lonely voyager

now she's headed for the bright lightswith her heartaches and her pride caught in web of its confusionwith no savior by her sideshe was blind to all its dangers so she fell into a spelland gave her grace to strangersfor a chance to paint the moon she was looking for a reason something to have faith in

(Chorus)

well her nights turned into cold days with no love to warm her soulnever knowing what to look forjust wishing for a hero to hold her tight but the jungle took its toll on her and time stole all her youthand left her just a broken angel with no wings, no wings to fly away she was looking for a reason something to have faith in

(Chorus)

"The Age of Indifference"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

there's a great forest burning to the south of our homelandthey say it's all in the name to promote the lives of manbut the night skies reflect their lies as we turn to close our eyestoo afraid to ask the cost too scared to face what we have lost to a world of a selfish sinto a world of a selfish sinin the townships they are crying to the sound of a distant drumthey say they've lost the answers to the voices of their sonsbut the children lie in cold despair, no chance to save their livestoo weak to try and make a stand too broken to hold onto a handfrom the arms of deliverancefrom the arms of deliverancewe are on the brink, times when dreams are lost and the frontiers are closing down, with every passing glanceit makes no sense, there is no defenseto the age of indifferenceto the age of indifferencethere's a dark storm that's coming to the heart of our hometowns and the gangs are fighting for control to try to take the rich men down and in the wake of all these drug wars there's only one way to survivetoo late to save their poor soulstoo blind to stop what we have boughtfrom the hands of the innocent from the hands of the innocent

(Chorus) there are heroes that are captured behind the walls of distant shoresand they're calling out for freedom to try to open all the doorsbut the politicians try and hide behind the laws of their disgracetoo tempted by their own greedtoo trapped to let their prisoners free from the chains of their bitternessfrom the chains of their bitterness(Chorus)

"Bums on 42nd Street"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

I was talking to the bums on 42nd Street I was listening to their sad lives it was down at the depot they would meetit was there they spoke of their strifeand some would drink their old red winejust to help them pass the time some would sing those lonesome bluescause that's all they really knew

(Chorus)it's a sad, sad story I've told about the men that stand in the coldit's a mad, mad world they've known these men with the heavy load well their ragged coats are made of tweed stuffed with papers no one needs they're called the sidewalk walkersand they're foul mouth talkers they wander through the night as stalkers of the lightwell they're poets and dreamers hiding from the pastdisguising all their lonely fearsbehind their laughter and their ragsthey ramble through the streets like shadows in the night

(Chorus) some get sick in the early dawn as their world screams like thunderthey know their life's not long so why save each other well, I left them in the early daydown at the city parkI didn't know what to say to the lonely men of the dark

(Chorus) I was talking to the bums on 42nd StreetI was listening to their sad lives it was down at the depot that they would meet it was there they spoke of their strife

"Shadows of Your Heart"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

I can see you walking down the dark avenues past my lonely roomyou're like the moonlight shining bright drowning all the stars and every time I see you it's like you were never goneand your know I'm lying here inside but you're too afraid to dance

(Chorus) and I try to forget who you are and I try to escape from these scars but don't you know you're burning a hole in my lifetearing my world apartoh girl, you're just a shadow in my heartoh girl, you're just a shadow in my heartI remember when we first met every night was like a dreamflying free like two angels high above a distant storm making love like two crazy fools watching the world go by but the memories of that love are quickly fading fast

(Chorus) two castaways drifting far away from angry lives searching for a harbor to soothe our ravaged hearts and the voices they are fading from a time of quiet hope but the silence of these empty nights just won't let me go(Chorus)

"Eyes of a Lonely Hunter"

Music and Words by: Michael Dane Hager

well the eyes of a lonely hunter whose love has gone asunderthe heart of a desperate man too weak to make a stand now I feel like I'm falling into the arms of disillusion down the road without no bends where the pain never ends so the light has begun to fade from a love once so brightthat I feel like a blind man in the shadows of the night

(Chorus) well I need you, I need you tonight can't you see that I won't survive I need you, I need you tonight, I need you

the anger that lingers in our hearts is like a stranger in our mindsI can hear your voice calling, it's getting stronger every timebut the tears keep on falling like the rain in my eyes I can hear your heart pounding it's like a siren in my mind but the memories of the bad times are burning down insidelike the wind before the stormstealing away our love

(Chorus)I thought I found the answer to the mystery of our plightit's learning how to give, it's learning how to compromise but that empty look upon your face tells me there's not a chancegone are the hopes and dreams lost in the games we played

(Chorus) well the eyes of a lonely hunter whose love has gone asunderthe heart of a desperate man too weak, too weak to make a stand

"Cantos"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

oh the cantos on my bookshelf with the words of a crazy mandon't you know he lived by truth but died aloneand sometimes his words were lost in obscurity but to some they made sense out of life

(Chorus) but he was just a stranger in a foreign landthe voice of freedom for the common manbut they broke him like a child and left him alone with his dreamsand on gray days when I'm feeling like the clouds pouring downI reach out and take the words of a poet manfrom one world to another I ride on his versessoft colors and some passion he left behind

(Chorus) and his friends they passed him by without seeing that look in his eyeslike mirrors they reflected all their lies oh the cantos on my bookshelf with the words of a crazy man don't you know he lived by truth but died alone(Chorus)

"Born in the Year of 1978"

Words and Music By:Michael Dane Hager

born in the year of ninety seventy-eighta product of a war he never would appreciateraised on heroes he never knewin a fantasy land built on empty plans poor child never knew the success he was supposed to behis mother had all the social gracesthe father he never knew worked too hard to pay his dues forgotten people in forsaken places holding onto lies with their empty faceshidden from all the truth blinded by the masquerade

(Chorus) but you don't care what you left astray and you wonder why I cry for yesterdaysweet innocence won't you take, take me back againsweet innocence won't you take, take me back againgenerations of time they come and pass but ours was supposed to be the golden ageexpected to answer all your ancient questions when all of your promises faded into false dreamsskeletons of your age still remain to haunt my soulsome say we lost our chance that life is just a joke, a passing glancebut I'll keep on struggling to change the ways and try and make you understand the painof what it feels like to lose what you sought to gain(Chorus)

"Out of the Cavern"

Words and Music by: Michael Dane Hager

out of the cavern into the lightjust like the morning after the nightwhy do you make me feel this wayI can't solve the games you playlost somewhere in my empty fear (Chorus)

love's flying by so fast I know I'm losing youlife's rushing by so fast I don't know what to do visions of faces hidden in the pastsweet memories that never last searching for things we'll never findtrying to hold onto timewishing for answers that aren't there (Chorus)

there goes my mind away from mejust like a ship out on the seaI can't feel with my eyeshow can I tell if you lie why can't your emotions be more clear(Chorus)

I feel the darkness it's all around I know love's been lost, how is it found there are no secrets to hidefeelings are just thoughts sacrificedI just want someone to care (Chorus)